Applications for Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) funding have always been fiercely competitive and never more so than at present. With a large number of innovative projects across a range of industries vying for each year’s allocation, it is worth noting that only a small number of them come from the third sector. Therefore, Social Firms UK being awarded one in partnership with Middlesex University is a clear acknowledgement of the relevance and benefit the project will have within the sector.
The funding will be used to recruit a graduate Research Associate for one year to assess the business success factors in establishing and running a Social Firm – an important hire in the current economic climate.
The project aims are threefold:
- Identify successful growth factors in the Social Firm sector;
- Identify potential new markets and report on best practice; and
- Develop tools and resources which incorporate the learning from this project.
Social Firms UK CEO, Sally Reynolds, said “We now have 180 businesses in the Social firm sector. It is important to us and those considering starting a Social Firm to know the success factors in order for us to guide and evidence what will help Social Firms start, grow and remain sustainable. We have, with the support of our partners, contributed a third of the costs, the rest is being provided by the Economic Social Research Council and the Technology Strategy Board. Middlesex University will be employing our KTP Associate, though they will be based in our offices and we very much look forward to working with them to inform growth in our sector”
Middlesex University project supervisor Alessio D'Angelo said: “Social firms represent an exciting business model and generate a valuable social impact across the UK; I am really looking forward to working alongside the UK’s leading support network for these firms”.
To apply for the position of KTP Associate, visit www.mdx.ac.uk/jobs for full details and complete your application by September 19th. Notes
- Social Firms UK success reflects the robust Social Firm model and the capacity it has to create true social change.
- Social Firms UK is the national support agency for one type of social enterprise committed to employing people at greatest disadvantage in the labour market. At least 25% of a Social Firm’s workforce is severely disadvantaged because, for example, they have a learning disability, mental health problem, a prison record or a history of homelessness or drug or alcohol misuse.
- Social Firms are market-led companies that generate at least 50% of their income through trade, reinvesting profits to create more jobs. Social Firms operate in a wide range of commercial sectors; see www.justbuy.org.uk for details. Since 1999 the number of Social Firms has increased from 5 to over 180 and collectively they now employ over 2000 people, 51% of whom face major labour market disadvantage.
- Social Firms UK has estimated that the sector helps to save over £40m a year in welfare benefits and around £8m in health care costs.
- Funded by government and managed by the Technology Strategy Board (www.innovateuk.org), Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) are a tried and tested method of enabling organisations to obtain knowledge, technology or skills which they consider to be of strategic competitive importance from the further/higher education sector or the research sector. The knowledge sought is embedded in the host ogranisation through a project or projects undertaken by a good quality individual recruited for the purpose.